GOLF COURSE PLAN SPARKS OPPOSITION

About 50 residents appeared before the planning commission Tuesday opposing a regulation change that would allow developers to make a proposed upscale subdivision a golfing community.

Before Marlborough Partners LLC proceeds with developing its 425 acres in the southern end of town, the partnership came before the commission requesting the regulation change that would allow it to build a golf course on property that would normally be set aside as open space.

The town's current regulations state that "open space shall not be turned into a commercial enterprise" and must remain undisturbed.

Under the group's plans, developers would build 90 single-family homes each valued at $750,000 and 40 townhouses valued at $450,000.

The town's "open space conservation area regulations," known as OSCAR, allow for cluster housing and smaller lot sizes that could accommodate such development. But the regulations require a subdivision of that density to have a minimum of 40 percent of its acreage as open space.

Marlborough Partners would use much of that presumed open space to develop an 18-hole golf course if the commission allows the regulation change. Developers said if the change is not approved, they would develop the land under a standard subdivision plan.

The commission closed the public hearing and was still discussing the matter late Tuesday. The developers have not submitted a specific subdivision plan to town land-use boards.

"It's a risky undertaking either direction we go in," said Bruce Hoben, a representative from Planimetrics, an Avon planning firm. "But the bottom line is the partnership owns the land and we will develop it. The message we want to get is whether or not we go forward with the golf course."

The message from residents was clear on the issue. Every resident spoke in opposition. Some said the purpose of open space was to protect the quality of life and the town's natural resources. Gordon Isleib, the conservation commission's secretary, read a letter from the commission in opposition to the regulation change.

"The commercial use of open space does not fit with the original intent of open space usage," he said. "The remainder of the site that isn't developed must remain undisturbed.

"This vision and concept has now somehow got bastardized in some way that now we can allow a golf course," he continued."This is further ripping apart the regulation's original intent."